Award Force blog
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Awards program growth is a huge motivating factor for many programs. Not only is entry growth important for programs that have an entry fee component, it’s also important for programs relying on sponsors and an incredibly useful indicator of the growing popularity of your awards.

Long-term sponsor relationships don’t happen by accident. They are built through clarity, care and consistency. When sponsors understand how your awards operate and can see the impact of their support, they are far more likely to stay engaged.

Tracking the right KPIs is key to running a successful award program. Learn which metrics matter most, how to interpret them, and how to use data to boost fairness, efficiency, and participant satisfaction throughout the entire award cycle.

Discover the seven most common mistakes in award forms – and learn how to avoid them. From unclear questions to missing guidance on attachments, this guide shows program managers and jury members how to create smoother, fairer, and more efficient submissions with practical tips and real-world examples.

Discover how Award Force’s new dashboard visualisation empowers program managers and judges with real-time insights, streamlined workflows and data-driven decision-making.

Every year brings new milestones for the awards community, and this year was no exception. Our clients around the globe continued to innovate, expand and elevate their recognition efforts. Here, at Award Force, we’ve had the privilege of supporting these achievements while also strengthening our platform with exciting new features to help our clients run exceptional, streamlined awards.

Which trends will shape award management in 2026, and how can you prepare your program now? Here are six developments set to make a significant impact in the awards industry in 2026.

Transitioning to a cloud-based accreditation system offers a powerful opportunity to eliminate paperwork and streamline your entire accreditation workflow. Here’s a look at the benefits.

Awards programs play a vital role in driving scientific and technological progress by fostering competition, collaboration and experimentation, amplifying new ideas, validating research, and attracting both funding and talent. By celebrating innovation and setting evolving standards of excellence, they inspire continued discovery and help shape the future direction of science.

Recognising excellence, whether in education, design, film, photography, art or other disciplines, often requires evaluating the entrant’s complete body of work. Portfolio assessment captures the depth and evolution of their competence and contributions over time, acknowledging sustained quality and encouraging entrants to reflect, curate and present their work.

As an awards manager, it’s typical to wonder how much it costs to run an awards program. It’s crucial to note that while some costs are expected and planned for, there are others that are harder to predict.

For awards program managers, the nomination stage often sets the tone for everything that follows. It’s where participants first engage with your program and where credibility, fairness and efficiency are put to the test.

Awards managers in Canada are working to maintain stellar quality and overall participant experience as their awards programs grow. The best way to effectively scale your awards program is to use award management software to streamline operations. Award Force is the answer.

Employee recognition can extend beyond appreciating employees for their efforts. Building sustainability into your employee recognition programs is a powerful way to celebrate your employees and invest in the planet.

The right photo judging software can make all the difference, helping you stay organised, save time and deliver a fair experience for participants and judges alike. Not all platforms are created equal, though. Before you launch your next contest, it’s worth knowing what to look for so you don’t end up with more headaches than solutions.